Curved Treadmills Explained: Who Are They For?

Curved treadmills look unusual and cost more than most motorised machines. Here is what they actually do, and who benefits.

No motor, no plug

A curved treadmill is self-powered. The belt moves because you move it, driven by your own foot placement on the curved deck. There is no motor, no maximum speed setting and no power cable.

Speed comes from where you stand

Move towards the front of the curve and the belt accelerates. Drift back towards the middle and it slows. Step to the rear and it stops. That makes changing pace instant, which is why curved machines suit interval and sprint work so well.

The trade-offs

Curved treadmills demand more effort at the same pace than motorised machines, which is the point for conditioning work but makes them tiring for long steady runs. They are also heavier and more expensive, and there is no incline setting or programmed workout to follow.

Who should buy one

They suit sprint training, HIIT, conditioning circuits and studio or gym environments where several people share one machine. For steady-state running, marathon training or gentle walking, a motorised treadmill is the better and cheaper choice.

Where to start

Browse our curved treadmills, or compare with commercial treadmills.